Getting there is just as beautiful as being in the park. Nine miles outside of Bryce Canyon on Scenic Byway 12 is Red Canyon. It should be added to your “must see” list, and simply driving through could be good enough. This is where you …
Before we visited Zion National Park we had no idea what to expect. We didn’t know how the town was laid out, if businesses were far away and how to get around the park efficiently. Hopefully we can help you out with that for your trip!
Springdale is directly outside the entrance of Zion, making it super convenient if you need anything. That being said, everything there is super expensive (grocery store food especially). We spent a few hours exploring the town and it is a must do if you’re passing through. Springdale also hosts all of your adventure companies, restaurants, laundromats and outside the park stay options.
There are two free shuttle systems, the Zion National Park shuttle system and the Springdale Shuttle System. As of now (5/10/22) you don’t need a reservation to use the shuttle or get into the park. The Springdale shuttle will drop you off as close as Zion Canyon Village, which is only a short walk to the visitor center. You can also grab a Zion Shuttle there but you will need to present your park pass.
Parking at the visitor center fills up fast. We saw people circling for long periods of time both in the Zion parking lots and in Springdale. Springdale had their own parking police that were on the job, so beware if you park in town to do it legally.
Bonus: Biking to get around is surprisingly easy. We rented bikes and ended up riding the Zion Canyon Road a few times, and all over town. We rented from Zion Adventure Center and got some normal road bikes even though they do rent e-bikes.
* We are fairly good hikers and this list is based on our experience on the trail. I’ll be posting an in depth guide with all of these trails if you’re looking for a lengthy description. These are also the trails that we did, there are plenty more to choose from.
There are two campgrounds inside of the National Park, South Campground and Watchman Campground. We stayed at Watchman Campground while we visited, and it was very convenient. Some things to note about these campgrounds: South Campground closes for the winter months and you can reserve up to 14 days in advance. Watchman Campground you may reserve your site 6 months in advance. Also note: these campgrounds have bathrooms but do not have showers.
Nearby private campgrounds: Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, Hi-Road Basecamp and Zion Canyon Campground and RV Resort.
Hotels nearby: Zion National Park Lodge, Cliffrose Springdale, Spring Hill Suites by Marriott, Cable Mountain Lodge, Desert Pearl Inn, Flanigans Resort Springdale and Best Western Plus Zion Canyon. These are just a few of the choices in the area, and they vary in price.
That depends on how much you want to do while you’re here. We spent 2 nights and 3 days and we did not waste a second of it. I would recommend at least 3 nights and 4 days for a more enjoyable pace.
Day 1:
